Department of Linguistics, Languages and Cultures

University of Calgary
Term/Year: Fall 2015
LING 201, LEC 3: INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
Days and Time: M/W/F 14:00-14:50
Room: AD (Administration) 140
Instructor: Dr. Alyona Belikova
Office: CH (Craigie Hall) C128
E-mail: abelikov@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours: Fridays 16:00-17:00 or by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Nazila Shafiei

Office: CH (Craigie Hall) D514
E-mail: nazila.shafieiilkhec@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a general introduction to the theory and methodology of linguistics, focusing on its primary areas:
phonetics (the inventory and structure of the sounds of speech), phonology (the sound patterns and the systematic
phonetic variation found in language), morphology (the analysis of word structure and word formation), syntax (the
analysis of sentence structure) and semantics (the study of meaning). This course introduces students to the basic
skills and techniques used in the analysis of linguistic data (English and other languages).
[No prerequisites. Not open to students with credit in Linguistics 205 or 207. This course may not be repeated for credit.]

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
It is important to attend class, since your exams, quizzes and assignments will focus on the material covered in class.
Your assignments, quizzes and exams will include a combination of multiple-choice, short-answer and problemsolving questions. The final exam will be cumulative, covering all parts of the course. Students may bring one onesided 8.5x11 page of notes with them to the final and midterm exams. Other aids (textbooks, electronic devices, etc.)
are not permitted.
Assignment #1
Assignment #2
Midterm Exam
Quizzes
Final Examination (cumulative)
Optional: Research Participation/
Critical Thinking (see below)
GRADING SCHEDULE
A+ = 97-100 %
B+ = 83-87%
A = 93-96 %
B = 78-82%
A- = 88-92 %
B- = 73-77%

Due on October 14, at beginning of class

Due on November 23, at beginning of class
October 21
1x2%, 6x3% each
Registrar scheduled (December 11-22)
Due on October 23 & December 8, via email by
midnight
C+ = 68-72%
C = 63-67%
C- = 58-62%

10%
10%
20%
20%
40%
up to 4%
(extra credit)

D+ = 53-57%
D = 50-52%
F = 0-49%

ABSENCE AND LATE WORK

Quizzes are written at the start of class (dont be late). Absence from a test (quiz/exam) will be excused in cases of
serious illness or major life changes (birth, death, marriage) for you or an immediate family member. These cases
must be appropriately documented. When a documented excuse is presented, the weight of the missed test will be
transferred to the weight of the final examination. No makeup tests (quizzes/midterms) will be offered. Without a
valid and documented excuse a grade of zero will be assigned.
All assignments are handed in at the beginning of class. Late assignments without appropriate documentation
(confirming extenuating circumstances (birth, death, illness) of you or a close family member) will have one full
letter grade subtracted for each day that the paper is late.
See the University of Calgary Calendar for further full details on general course policies:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/academic-regs.html
1

PRELIMINARY COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to revision as needed)

Please see Undergraduate Academic Schedule 2015-2016 for other important dates and deadlines.
Date
Sept. 9, W
Sept. 11, F
Sept. 14, M
Sept. 16, W
Sept. 18, F
Sept. 21, M
Sept. 23, W
Sept. 25. F
Sept. 28, M
Sept. 30, W
Oct. 2, F
Oct. 5, M
Oct. 7, W
Oct. 9, F
Oct. 12, M
Oct. 14, W
Oct. 16, F
Oct. 19, M
Oct. 21, W
Oct. 23, F
Oct. 26, M
Oct. 28, W
Oct. 30, F
Nov. 2, M
Nov. 4, W
Nov. 6, F
Nov. 9, M
Nov. 11, W
Nov. 13, F
Nov. 16, M
Nov. 18, W
Nov. 20, F
Nov. 23, M
Nov. 25, W
Nov. 27, F
Nov. 30, M
Dec. 2, W
Dec. 4, F
Dec. 7, M
Dec. 8, T
TBA

Notes

Topic
Introduction: What is language? Grammar and
linguistic competence. Universality.
Phonetics: The sound producing system; sound
classes; phonetic transcription. Consonants.
Vowels. Suprasegmentals. Phonetic processes.

Reading
Ch. 1

Ch. 3

Quiz 4 (3%)

Phonology: Phonemes vs. allophones; minimal

pairs; complementary distribution. Broad vs.
narrow transcription. Phonological rules.
Syllables.

Assignment 1 due (10%)

Thanksgiving (no class)

Morphology: Types of morphemes.

Quiz 1 (2%)

Ch. 2

Quiz 2 (3%)
Quiz 3 (3%)

Article Review 1 due

Quiz 5 (3%)

Ch. 4

Review
Midterm (20%)
Morphology contd: Derivation. Inflection.
Compounding.

Ch. 1-3

Syntax : Categories and phrase structure; tests

for phrase structure.

Ch. 5

Ch. 4

Quiz 6 (3%)

Assignment 2 due (10%)

Remembrance Day/Reading Day (no class)

Reading Day (no class)
Syntax contd: Complements. Move; yes/no
questions; wh-movement. Universal Grammar
and parametric variation; verb raising.
Semantics: Semantic relations among words.
Interpretation; structural ambiguity. Pragmatics;
presupposition; conversational maxims.

Ch. 5

Ch. 6

Quiz 7 (3%)
Review
Article Review 2 due
Research Participation due

Ch. 1-6

(no class)
Final Examination (40%) (Registrar scheduled)

D2L (Desire to Learn)

There is a D2L site upon which I will post selected materials and make announcements to the class. You can access
the D2L course page by the following two routes: my.ucalgary.ca OR d2l.ucalgary.ca
2

REQUIRED/RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Required: Contemporary Linguistic Analysis: An Introduction, 8th edition. OGrady, W. & J. Archibald, eds.
Toronto: Pearson Canada.
Recommended: Study Guide for Contemporary Linguistic Analysis: An Introduction, 8th edition. Toronto: Pearson
Canada.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Students are encouraged to consult the Text Enrichment Site for the textbook (extra reading material, sources for the
chapters) at: http://www.pearsoned.ca/ogrady
VERBATIM
Students may wish to join the University of Calgarys Undergraduate Linguistics Society, Verbatim (located in CHC
320). Verbatim offers fun and free events for Linguistics students, lounge space, a full library, and much more!
Here, you can meet and interact with a group of like-minded students who can give help and advice for questions
about Linguistics courses or degrees. Contact them at verbatim@ucalgary.ca or visit their website
at: http://llc.ucalgary.ca/undergraduate/linguistics/verbatim-undergraduate-linguistics-club.
PASS SESSIONS
PASS Sessions will be held for this course every week. These sessions will give you a chance to review material
presented during lectures each week through a mixture of exercises, games and discussion. There will be multiple
PASS sessions held each week; attendance at the sessions is encouraged, but optional. The time and place for these
sessions will be determined on the basis of student availability and announced at various points throughout the
semester. Your student leader for PASS is Christina Ilse Terpstra; you may contact her at citerpst@ucalgary.ca.
RESEARCH PARTICIPATION AND CRITICAL THINKING
Ling 201 students may add an Experiential Learning/Critical Thinking component. This is an optional bonus
component that can add up to 4% to your final grade. The educational objective of this component of the course is to
provide you with an introduction to contemporary research in the field of linguistics. You can complete
this component by either participating in ongoing research studies in the department (Option 1:
Research Participation), by completing 1-page article evaluations from a designated list (Option 2:
Article Evaluations), or by a combination of these two options.
Option 1: Research Participation. To participate in departmentally approved research studies, you must first login
to http://ucalgary-ling.sona-systems.com to create a participant account. Studies will be posted to this website as
they become available during the term, and you will be able to sign up for participation in any study through the
website. You earn 1% (1 credit) for each study in which you participate. Each study will be followed by an
educational debriefing experience. Please keep in mind that there may not be enough studies available, so you
should seek studies early in the term and frequently check for open timeslots. The last day to participate in
studies and earn Extra Credit for Ling 201 is December 8, 2015.
Option 2: Article Evaluations. You can also complete the Extra Credit component by reading and evaluating short
research articles, from various subdisciplines in the field of linguistics. You earn 2% (2 credits) for each acceptable
evaluation. The readings and the review form are available on D2L. This form asks you to list the article you have
reviewed, the research area of the article, and a series of four critical thinking questions on the content of the article.
Please note that you can submit only one evaluation per due date (October 23 and December 8) during the semester.
Option 3: Combinations of Options 1 and 2. You can complete the Extra Credit component by combining credit
from Options 1 and 2 (i.e. 2% through Option 1 and 2% through Option 2). Since article evaluations can only be
submitted at two points in the semester, students who choose to earn Extra Credit by combining Options 1 and 2 are
strongly advised to submit an evaluation on the earlier due date.

FACULTY OF ARTS
Linguistics, Languages & Cultures
Tel: 403.220.5293/53061 | Fax: 403.284.3810
Email: llc@ucalgarv.ca | Web: llc.ucalgary.ca
A.

A. UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
B. DEPARTMENT POLICIES

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

PLAGIARISM is a serious offense, the penalty for which is an 'F' on the assignment and possibly also an 'F' in the course, academic probation,
or requirement to withdraw.
The University Calendar states that "plagiarism" exists when:
a. the work submitted or presented was done, in whole or in part, by an individual other than the one submitting or presenting the work (this
includes having another impersonate the student or otherwise substituting the work of another for one's own in an examination or test),
b. parts of the work are taken from another source without reference to the original author,
c. the whole work (e.g., an essay) is copied from another source, and/or,
d. a student submits or presents work in one course which has also been submitted in another course (although it may be completely original with
that student) without the knowledge of or prior agreement of the instructor involved.
While it is recognized that scholarly work often involves reference to the ideas, data and conclusions of other scholars, intellectual honesty requires
that such references be explicitly and clearly noted.
Plagiarism occurs not only when direct quotations are taken from a source without specific acknowledgement but also when original ideas or data
from the source are not acknowledged. A bibliography is insufficient to establish which portions of the student's work are taken from external
sources; footnotes or other recognized forms of citation must be used for this purpose.
Plagiarism also occurs when work submitted is done in whole or in part by a tutor (see the Departmental policy on tutoring, below), or relies in any way
on computerized translation programs.
CHEATING is an extremely serious academic offense. Cheating at tests or examinations includes, but is not limited to, dishonest or attempted
dishonest conduct such as speaking to other candidates or communicating with them under any circumstances whatsoever; bringing into the
examination room any textbook, notebook, memorandum, other written material or mechanical or electronic device not authorized by the
examiner; writing an examination or part of it, or consulting any person or materials outside the confines of the examination room without
permission to do so, or leaving answer papers exposed to view, or persistent attempts to read other students' examination papers.
OTHER ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT includes, but is not limited to, tampering or attempts to tamper with examination scripts, class work, grades
and/or class records; failure to abide by directions by an Instructor regarding the individuality of work handed in; the acquisition, attempted
acquisition, possession, and/or distribution of examination or other class assignment; the falsification or fabrication of clinical or laboratory reports;
the non- authorized tape recording of lectures.
Any student who voluntarily and consciously aids another student in the commission of one of these offenses is also guilty of academic
misconduct.
SAFEWALK/Campus Security: If you require an escort at any time, please call 403.220.5333.
DISABILITES: Students with a disability or condition that may affect academic performance adversely are asked to meet with their instructor
before the third week of term to discuss their particular needs. They are also advised to make an appointment in the first two weeks of term with
Student Accessibility Services (MSC 452, Tel: 403.220.8237, Fax: 403.210.1063) to discuss their situation.

2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

www.ucalgary.ca

B.

DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES

TUTORING: LLC supports all avenues of learning in the study of foreign languages. Tutors may fulfill a useful role in this endeavor; however,
they may not do, or assist with, assignments such as homework exercises, or editing and revising essays. The University of Calgary Calendar
states that "Plagiarism exists when: (a) the work submitted or presented was done, in whole or part, by an individual other than the one submitting
or presenting the work". The Department does not assume any responsibility for any arrangements made between students and tutors. Before
posting an advertisement, a tutor must consult with a staff member of the appropriate language area, and provide certain information for
departmental files. Upon approval, the advertisement will be rubber-stamped by one of the secretaries in the Department Office (CH C205) and
posted on the bulletin board. Advertisements which do not bear the official departmental stamp will be removed from the bulletin board without
notice.
ACCESS TO LANGUAGE LABS: For the benefit of students who may wish to "drop in" to D428 OR E212, the Language Research Centre, LLC
and FIS shall continue with the protocol that leaving the door open during an instructor's session implies willingness to let students from other
courses and/or sections to work at free stations while a class is doing its lab. Students coming in should, of course, request permission.
PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT SHOULD STUDENTS WISH TO CONTINUE USING THE LAB ONCE THE INSTRUCTOR LEAVES, THEY
MUST FIRST LEAVE THE ROOM AND THEN WAIT FOR THE NEXT INSTRUCTOR TO ARRIVE.
MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS: When a student is/was unable to attend a class/lab/examination and wishes to make alternate arrangements, the
instructor may require prompt and current documentation from a medical practitioner confirming that a medical condition prevents/prevented
attendance. Explanation of the absence should be provided on the same day, or at the student's earliest possible convenience. Only if a student
observes these guidelines will instructors consider making alternate arrangements.
FACULTY OF ARTS PROGRAM AND STUDENT INFORMATION RESOURCES
Have a question, but not sure where to start? The new Arts Students Centre (ASC) is your information resource for everything in Arts! Drop in at SS102,
call us at 403.220.3580 or email us at artsads@ucalgary.ca. You can also visit the Faculty of Arts at arts.ucalgary.ca/undergraduate which has detailed
information on common academic concerns.
For program planning and advice, contact the Student Success Centre (formerly the Undergraduate Programs Office) at 403.220.5881 or visit
them in their new space on the 3rd floor of the Taylor Family Digital Library.
For registration (add/drop/swap), paying fees, and assistance with your Student Centre, contact Enrolment Services at 403.210.ROCK (7625) or
visit them at the MacKimmie Library Block.
Contact for Students Union Representatives for the Faculty
arts1@su.ucalgary.ca, arts2@su.ucalgary.ca, arts3@su.ucalgary.ca, arts4@su.ucalgary.ca
Students' Union: http://www.su.ucalgary.ca/page/affordability-accessibility/contac
Student Ombudsperson Office: http://www.ucalgary.ca/provost/students/ombuds

2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

www.ucalgary.ca